When I sold my house and needed to rent for a few months until my new-build was ready, her husband offered to let me stay at their house to help pay the bills. I jumped at the chance as it meant being close to her. However, it became increasingly hard not to show my feelings, especially when I witnessed his abusive behaviour.

It was just verbal when I was around but it got so bad that I decided to move out and asked her to come with me. She refused, making all sorts of excuses. I didn’t see her again for a year.

We met again at a mutual friend’s party and all the old feelings came flooding back.

I took her away for the weekend for her birthday and arranged for her present, a new car, to be delivered to the hotel. She was thrilled.